Last week, Oppo officially took the wraps off the Oppo F21 Pro series in India. The lineup consists of two models, namely Oppo F21 Pro and Oppo F21 Pro. We have already published our review of the former device. 

Now, let us compare it to the latter model in this article and find out whether the 5G-enabled variant is worth its asking price. For the unaware, the Oppo F21 Pro and Oppo F21 Pro 5G are priced at ₹22,999 and ₹26,999 respectively.

Before I begin, I would like to put a disclaimer that his comparison between the Oppo F21 Pro and the Oppo F21 Pro 5G is based on my personal experience with the review samples loaned to me by Oppo India. The opinions mentioned here are mine alone, and the company had no editorial input or early look.

Oppo F21 Pro vs Oppo F21 Pro 5G: Which one should you buy?

Box Contents

Both the Oppo F21 Pro and Oppo F21 Pro 5G arrive in an identical box with the same list of contents. Buyers will find the following items in the retail box.

• Smartphone
• Transparent Case
• 33W SuperVOOC Charger
• USB Type-A to Type-C cable
• SIM Ejector Tool
• Documentation

Design and Build

In my review of the Oppo F21 Pro, I praised its design. It is one of the best-looking smartphones under ₹25,000. The same can also be said for the Oppo F21 Pro 5G, which is positioned in the under ₹30,000 category. However, I prefer the 4G model over 5G.

The 4G variant has a unique fiberglass leather finish on its back. But it is worth noting that this finish is only available on the Sunset Orange color option, since the Cosmic Black version has a matte glass finish.

On the other hand, the Oppo F21 Pro 5G only comes in a glass finish for both Rainbow Spectrum and Cosmic Black versions. I have the former, and it looks like cotton candy when viewed from certain angles. At the same time, the colors look flat when viewed straight.

The orange-colored Oppo F21 Pro also feels better in the hand. It does not slip and looks unlike any other phone on the market. It surely is a head-turner. You don’t need a case unless you are one of those who drop their handsets often.

Whereas, the Oppo F21 Pro 5G is like a regular smartphone with a glass back. This means it is slippery in the hands, but features a matte finish to keep it free of smudges.

Talking about the rear camera placement, the sensors on the 4G model are placed on a rectangular island, which resembles an old-school camcorder. There’s a white LED ring around one of the cameras.

While the cameras on the 5G model are placed on the rear panel itself. Two of them even have blue-colored LED rings. Oppo calls them ‘Orbit Lights’. They look better than the single LED ring on the 4G device.

Display and Sound

The Oppo F21 Pro and the Oppo F21 Pro 5G sport an identical 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels (FHD+) and a 20:9 aspect ratio. The screen has a 180Hz touch sampling rate, a punch-hole at the top left corner, and can reach a peak brightness level of 600 nits.

The only difference between the two is the presence of a 90Hz refresh rate on the 4G model as opposed to the standard 60Hz refresh rate on the 5G model. This one change in the specs makes a day and night difference, at least to me. Once you are used to a high refresh rate screen on smartphones, there’s never going back.

As far as the performance of the screens is concerned, they are almost identical with one minor difference. The color tone is cooler on the 5G model and warmer on the 4G variant. They are good for consuming content and can get bright enough under direct sunlight. These displays are fine but nothing out of the ordinary.

Further, though they have support for HDR10 and HLG standards, they cannot play HDR videos on YouTube or any other streaming platform. However, both have Widevine L1 certification (which was not present on the 4G model when its review was published)  and are able to play FHD (1080p) content on Netflix and Prime Video.

Talking about sound, both the phones house a single bottom-firing speaker. But their audio output is slightly different from one another. I prefer the one on the 4G handset as it is not only louder but also sounds fuller with less distortion at higher volume levels.

As far as wireless sound performance is concerned, it is near identical on both of them. I paired the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro with these phones, and they sounded the same when connected to either of them.

However, only the 4G model has support for ColorOS quick pairing. On the 5G model, users need to enter pairing mode as they need to for devices from other brands. It is possible for Oppo to add this feature via a software update, but we are not sure if and when it will arrive.

Hardware and Software

The major difference between the Oppo F21 Pro and the Oppo F21 Pro 5G is their chipsets. The former houses a 4G-only Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 SoC, while the latter is powered by a 5G-enabled Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC. 

The two of them sport 8GB LPDDR4x RAM and 128GB UFS 2.2 storage. But only the 4G smartphone has a MicroSD card slot (dedicated).

Oppo F21 Pro Benchmark

Undoubtedly, the 5G model is faster as it has a better chip. But since it lacks a high refresh rate display, I felt the 4G model to be smoother to my eyes, though it is slower. 

As you can see from the screenshots, the F21 Pro 5G scores way more on AnTutu Benchmark. Even on Geekbench, it has a better score than the F21 Pro. Only if it had a 90Hz display, the experience would have been even better.

Oppo F21 Pro 5G Benchmark

On the software front, despite being cheaper with a less-powerful chip, the 4G handset boots ColorOS 12 based on Android 12. Whereas, the 5G variant comes with Android 11-based ColorOS 12.

The software on the two phones is almost identical, and they even come with the same bloatware, most of which is uninstallable. But the 5G version lacks new Android 12-exclusive features like granular location permission, camera/microphone indicator, and more.

Camera

The two phones have different camera systems. But one thing is common between them. Though they have triple cameras on the rear, only one of these sensors is useful, in addition to the front-facing camera.

The Oppo F21 Pro arrives with a 64MP primary camera, a 2MP snapper with a 15x microlens, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 32MP shooter for selfies. On the other hand, the Oppo F21 Pro 5G comes equipped with a 64MP primary camera, a 2MP macro shooter, a 2MP monochrome sensor, and a 16MP selfie camera.

Oppo F21 Pro Camera Samples

Despite featuring the same 64MP OmniVision OV64B sensor as their main camera, the output is different from these handsets. This is likely due to the presence of different ISPs and software processing.

The pictures from the 5G version have warmer color tones as opposed to cooler color tones in the images from the 4G variant. Further, the pictures from the latter phone are more vibrant due to higher saturation. None of them can produce accurate colors, but the images from the 4G handset are more pleasing to the eyes.

Oppo F21 Pro 5G Camera Samples

As mentioned in my review of the Oppo F21 Pro, human skin tones are almost accurate in the images from this smartphone. But the same cannot be said for the Oppo F21 Pro 5G since it’s totally opposite. Though I don’t like the selfies from either of these handsets, the output from the 4G model is better.

In low-light conditions, both of them cannot output good-quality pictures. Night Mode does not help either. As far as video recording is concerned, the devices are limited to 1080p resolution and the quality is acceptable in good lighting without much stabilization and is not recommended for low-light situations.

Connectivity

The connectivity options on the Oppo F21 Pro and the Oppo F21 Pro 5G are identical, except for the 5G support on the latter. They feature dual SIM card slots, dual-band WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, and GNSS. 

I did not face call drops on either of them. The WiFi connection works well as it should, and so do Bluetooth and GNSS.

I could not test 5G on the Oppo F21 Pro 5G as the networks are yet to go live in India. When they do go live, users should be able to experience the latest cellular technology, but the same cannot be said for the Oppo F21 Pro users.

Battery and Charging

Both the Oppo F21 Pro and the Oppo F21 Pro 5G are fueled by the same 4,500mAh battery. They also have support for the very same 33W Oppo SuperVOOC fast charging protocol.

But during my usage, I found out that the 5G device actually charges a bit faster. It is roughly around 8 minutes faster as it takes about 1 hour and 14 minutes to reach 100% from 10% as opposed to around 1 hour and 22 minutes required by the 4G handset.

Since the SoCs featured in these smartphones are built on a 6nm process, they are energy-efficient. The devices can easily last a day on a full charge on normal usage. 

Verdict

Even though the Oppo F21 Pro 5G has a faster chipset, it is not enough for me to recommend it over the Oppo F21 Pro. The 4G variant does most of the things better. It even looks unique in the orange color and feels better in the hands.

The cherry on top is that the 4G version is ₹4,000 cheaper than the 5G model. The price further paints a clear picture that the Oppo F21 Pro is truly the winner of the two.

With that being said, as I mentioned in my review, the Oppo F21 Pro itself is not the best option in this price segment. But if you are in the market for either of these two devices, you should probably go with the 4G model instead of the 5G one.

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After teasing for days, Oppo has officially launched the Oppo F21 Pro in India. The mid-range smartphone arrives with a revamped design and a new set of features. Just like its predecessors, it has a unique look and feel, but comes with mediocre specs. Is this phone any better than other devices in the segment? Should you buy it? I try to answer these questions in this review.

Before delving into the review, I would like to put a disclaimer that this review is based on my personal experience with an Oppo F21 Pro review sample loaned to me by Oppo India. The opinions stated here are mine alone, and the company had no early look or editorial input.

Oppo F21 Pro Review

Box Contents

• Oppo F21 Pro
• Transparent Case
• 33W SuperVOOC Charger
• USB Type-A to Type-C cable
• SIM Ejector Tool
• Documentation

Unlike previous models in the lineup, the device does not ship with a free pair of wired earphones.

Design and Build

The best thing about the Oppo F21 Pro is its design. The phone comes in two color options, namely Sunset Orange (fiberglass leather) and Cosmic Black (glass). 

I have the former color variant. The back of this version is made of fiberglass leather. This artificial leather finish feels good in the hands and looks fascinating in the orange color. It’s one of a kind, as there aren’t many orange-colored smartphones in the market.

I didn’t use the case included in the box at all. Clearly, the handset wants to be used naked. During my week of usage, the leather back did not accumulate any noticeable dirt.

Another notable thing about the phone’s design is its camera island. It mimics a camcorder with a dual-tone finish. Apart from an LED flashlight, there’s also an LED ring for notifications.

The flat frame of the handset is made of plastic, but it feels sturdy in the hands. The two sides of the frame are occupied by a tactile power key on the right and volume buttons, as well as the SIM card slot on the left. 

The top only includes a secondary microphone hole. Whereas, the bottom houses a 3.5mm headphone jack, a primary microphone hole, a USB Type-C port, and a speaker grille.

As a whole, the smartphone measures only 7.54mm in thickness (excluding the camera bump) and weighs just 175 grams. Hence, it is very comfortable to hold for a long period of time.

Display and Sound

The Oppo F21 Pro sports a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a punch-hole on the top left corner. The canvas has a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels with a 20:9 aspect ratio.

The screen supports up to 90Hz refresh rate and 180Hz touch sampling rate. The display performs well for the price. It gets sufficiently bright under direct sunlight. 

However, it is worth noting that the panel could not run at 90Hz refresh rate at all times. This could be either due to the lower mid-range chipset or because of the software optimization. It is a known issue on phones with a similar configuration.

Interestingly, though the screen supports HDR10 and HLG standards, it cannot play HDR videos on YouTube. Also, the device lacks Widevine L1 certification, and therefore, it cannot play HD videos on popular streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. But Oppo says these issues will not be present on the retail unit. 

Unlike most smartphones in the segment, the Oppo F21 Pro does not come with dual stereo speakers. Though it has a single bottom-firing unit, it is loud enough for binge-watching. Anyway, the absence of stereo sound will always be felt if you are used to it, like me.

Then, there’s a headphone jack for those who don’t own or prefer wireless earphones. But as mentioned earlier, you won’t find a free pair of wired earphones in the box.

Hardware and Software

The Oppo F21 Pro is run by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 SoC. The chipset is paired with 8GB LPDDR4x RAM and 128GB UFS 2.2 storage. 

The handset also has support for up to 5GB of virtual RAM. By default, it ships with the 3GB virtual RAM option enabled. I did not make any changes to the value throughout my usage, as most users would.

On the software front, the device boots ColorOS 12.1 based on Android 12. The experience is the same as what you would find on Oppo smartphones with the same software, but only slower. This means you also get bloatware, but unfortunately, they are uninstallable.

Though the software tries to be responsive as possible, it is held down by the lower-end chip. That does not mean the phone is dead slow. It’s just not as fast as the competitors and Oppo’s own Reno 7 and Reno 6.

The handset performs well for day-to-day usage. It can hold multiple apps in memory, but not for a long period of time, which is expected from a similarly specced device. Just don’t expect a good gaming experience, as it is not built for it.

Camera

The Oppo F21 Pro comes equipped with a triple camera setup on the rear. The system consists of a 64MP OmniVision OV64B primary sensor, a 2MP Galaxycore GC02M1 sensor with a 15x microlens, and a 2MP Galaxycore GC02M1B depth sensor. Whereas, on the front, it features a 32MP Sony IMX709 RGBW sensor for selfies.

Out of the four cameras, only two of them are useful. The depth sensor is of no use like on any other smartphone. On the other hand, there’s not much to do with the microlens. One would get bored in a while and may forget that it even exists.

Talking about the primary camera first, it is the same sensor found on the expensive Oppo Reno 6 Pro 5G (review) and Oppo Reno 6 5G (review) last year. However, the software processing is quite different.

Those two Reno handsets couldn’t output the proper skin tones of human subjects. But the new F21 Pro comes close. I really like how it shows the color of dark skin. The device even does not make changes to irregularities like pimples. The output from the camera is almost the same as what you see in real life.

But the color accuracy is not great, and that’s fine because people love pictures that are appealing to their eyes. There’s no over-saturation as such, which is a good thing.

HDR or high dynamic range is good but just like the Renos I have tested earlier, the processing is sometimes too extreme when there’s more backlight. Hence, you get to see halo effects in such images.

In low light conditions, the pictures are grainy, as you would expect from a lower mid-range smartphone. The night mode does not help much either.

Coming to the selfie camera, though the device has good hardware, the processing is poor. I did not like using the front camera at all. The skin tones are way off the chart. But the other aspects are similar to that of the main camera. Additionally, both the front and rear cameras have a wider lens to accommodate more subjects.

As far as video recording is concerned, both the rear and front cameras are limited to 1080p at 30fps quality. The videos out of these two sensors are average at best. They are slow at focussing and there’s no stability. In low light, they are grainy, just like the photos. Anyway, the audio captured by the microphones is clear, but there’s no noticeable noise cancellation.

Miscellaneous

The handset is limited to 4G connectivity, which is fine as 5G networks are yet to go live in India. Even if the new generation network gets launched by the end of 2022 or early 2023, it won’t be widely available across the country.

Talking about what’s present, LTE mobile data works well as it should and so does mobile hotspot. There’s no issue with the audio from the headpiece, and the same can be said for the microphone quality. Similarly, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth work fine. I did not face any drops.

Finally, the LED ring light for the microscope camera can also be used for notifications, call alerts, charging indications, and even for game launches. Though it looks cool, I didn’t find any use for it as I usually place my phone backside down.

Battery and Charging

The Oppo F21 Pro gets its juice from a 4,500mAh battery. On a full charge, it can easily last a day and some more. Because the Snapdragon 680 chip present inside the device is energy-efficient as it uses a 6nm process.

At the same time, the battery can be recharged in less than 90  minutes with the included 33W SuperVOOC fast charger. It takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes to fill from 10% to 100%.

It is definitely not the fastest charging handset in the segment. But that’s fine for most people, unless you are one of those who are always in a hurry.

Verdict

Just like most Oppo smartphones, the Oppo F21 Pro is not meant for everyone. It is average in all categories, except for the design. The phone’s look and in-hand feel need to be experienced firsthand to appreciate them.

There are consumers for whom design comes first. For them, this could be the best purchase.

Whereas, for others, if you are fine with the shortcomings mentioned above, there’s nothing wrong in choosing this handset over competitors. 

Alternately, the Oppo F21 Pro is probably one of the best options for those looking for a secondary smartphone in this price segment. Mostly because it is thin and light and offers a good battery life, in addition to its looks being a head turner. 

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OPPO has just officially announced the launch date for its highly anticipated F21 Pro series of smartphone. The company revealed the upcoming devices’ launch date of April 12 in a recent press release.

In the new teaser, the Chinese smartphone maker also shared an image that showcased a bit of the F21 Pro series rear design. The model in the image is F21 Pro in Sunset Orange color variant that comes with OPPO’s industry first Fibreglass Leather design on the back, which doubles as a “frameless” battery cover. This helps makes the handset thin, light, and more durable as well. Notably, it took the brand’s engineers two years of research and refinement to chose lychee grain leather for the base material due to its “plush” feel.

As per official notes, the lychee grain leather material is waterproof and is also quite resistant to wear and tear. During lab trials, the material was subjected to extremes tests that involved rubbing the material with an alcohol soaked pad, a rubber eraser, and a denim swatch over 5,000, 10,000, and 200,000 times respectively. This was done to check its durability and ability to retain its color.

Apart from the orange option, the F21 Pro is also set to come in a Cosmic Black variant that users OPPO Glow technology as well, which makes the rear panel look glossy with a matte feel in hand. The F21 Pro 5G will be available in three color options, with the last one being the Rainbow Spectrum, which uses a ‘three layer texture and a two layer coating’ manufacturing process. So stick around for more, as we will be covering the launch event.

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We haven’t heard much about the Oppo F21 series in the last few months. However, a major leak that showed the F21 Pro+’s live images arrived recently confirming the design change over the predecessor. Now, the F21 Pro’s promo poster has been doing rounds on the Internet.

The promo poster(via Tech Boiler) of the Oppo F21 Pro gives us a look at the phone’s rear design. The smartphone looks identical to the Oppo Reno7 that launched earlier in Indonesia. The device has a clean Orange-colored back with the camera island at the top left.

Though the promo image is of low-resolution, we get to see the multiple camera sensors. It also seems to have the matte design as the Reno7’s Indonesia model.

Furthermore, the smartphone is marketed with the tagline “Fantastic Selfie”, revealing that its highlight will be the front-facing camera. Lastly, the promo poster is from Pakistan, which confirms that the device will debut soon in the region.

Other details of the Oppo F21 Pro are under wraps, but we do know that the series will also have the F21 Pro+ and the vanilla F21. Interestingly, a report from December 2021 revealed that the series will debut in India as well. It is said to launch between March 17 and March 21 in the country. The vanilla F21 and the F21 Pro will be 4G models, while the F21 Pro+ will be a 5G offering.

In India, the series is expected to arrive between Rs. 20,000(~$262) and Rs. 30,000(~$393).

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Earlier this week, the OPPO F21 series was tipped to launch in India by the end of Q1 2022. Just a few days later, the rough launch date for the lineup has now emerged. Let’s take a look at when these smartphones will go official.

According to a report by 91Mobiles, the OPPO F21 series will include three models, namely OPPO F21, OPPO F21 Pro, and OPPO F21 Pro+. Previously, the publication suggested that there will be only a standard and a Pro model.

Further, the report says that two of these handsets will be launched in India between March 17 and March 21. This duo will be OPPO F21 and OPPO F21 Pro+. 

The latter will go on sale first, followed by the former a week later. Whereas, the OPPO F21 Pro will be released sometime later.

Unfortunately, nothing else is known about the OPPO F21 series, except that it could sport a better design than the OPPO Reno7 series. For those unaware, the OPPO F series is a family of fashion and lifestyle-focused smartphones, which are exclusive to India. Hence, it is not surprising to learn that they may have a better design than the more expensive phones.

This year’s OPPO F19 series also consists of three models. The base and mid variants are limited to 4G connectivity, while the top version can connect to 5G networks.

All three devices in the OPPO F21 series could arrive with 5G support, given the current market trend. They are expected to cost between ₹20,000 and ₹30,000.

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The OPPO F21 series was reported to launch in the second half of 2021 ahead of Diwali festive season. Unfortunately, that never happened. Global semiconductor shortage could be the possible reason for this. Now, months later, a new report says that the next devices in the OPPO F series will release in Q1 2022.

According to industry sources of 91Mobiles, the OPPO F21 series will launch at the end of Q1 2022 in India. In other words, the lineup will make its debut in March 2022.

The sources say that the phones will look better than the recently unveiled OPPO Reno7 series. Further, the series is expected to include two models priced between ₹20,000 and ₹30,000 in India.

The current-gen OPPO F19 lineup launched in March 2021. OPPO only released two models first, namely OPPO F19 Pro and OPPO F19 Pro+. These devices were later followed by the vanilla OPPO F19 in April.

Only the Pro+ variant is 5G enabled, while the Pro and standard versions are limited to 4G connectivity. The regular model also got a special edition in the form of OPPO F19s before Diwali. However, it didn’t bring any feature upgrades.

Although the sources don’t say anything, we think that both the models in the upcoming OPPO F21 lineup should arrive with 5G connectivity, given the market trend.

What are your expectations of the OPPO F21 series? Share with us in the comment section below.

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Chinese smartphone maker OPPO just launched OPPO F17 and OPPO F17 Pro in the beginning of this month in India. And now, according to a new leak, the company will soon debut a higher model in the series called OPPO F21 Pro before Diwali (festival of lights) in the country.

This exclusive leak comes from MySmartPrice. As per the industrial sources of the publication, the OPPO F21 Pro will either launch in October or November before the Diwali festival on Diwali on November 14.

Unfortunately, the sources did not reveal any specifications of this device. However, they did mention that it will be sleeker than the OPPO F17 Pro with a glass back design instead of plastic rear panel. Also, it is said to feature a different pattern on the back to differentiate itself.

That’s all the information the leak gave away about the upcoming OPPO F21 Pro. That said, since it will be placed about the OPPO F17 Pro, we can expect it to feature a much powerful chipset than MediaTek helio P95, retain AMOLED display, 30W or more fast charging, better cameras, and ColorOS 7.2 baked on Android 10.

As for pricing, the OPPO F17 Pro is available in a single 8GB + 128B storage configuration for ₹22,990 ($312) in India and therefore, the forthcoming OPPO F21 Pro should retail for around ₹30,000 ($407) in the country.

UP NEXT: OPPO ColorOS 11: All the features you need to know

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